Electric switch.



No. 710,270. C Patented sept. a0, |902. F. tt. HEADLEY.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

(Applieatn med Jan. 21, 1901.)

ma Model.)

UNITED STATES FREDERICK I-IAGGER HEADLEY, OF ST. AUSTELL, ENGLAND..

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,270, datedSeptember 30, 1902. Application filed January 2l, 1901. Serial No.44,184. No model.)

A vented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Switches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches, and has for its object theprovision of a simple and improved quick-break double-pole switch of theconstruction hereinafter described.

My invention is characterized by simplicity of action and construction,in the ease with which the mechanical parts of the switch can bedetached from the switchboard, and in the arrangement that the whole ofthe working parts of the switch, in which term is included all partsexcept the terminal contactblocks and the connecting bridge-pieces, are.

insulated from the electric circuit.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan of a switchconstructed and arranged according to my invention, the switch being inits closed position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the switchbeing in its closed position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the switchin its open position. Y I

A switch constructed according to my invention consists of two pivotedlevers l 2, each ofwhich carries a switch-bridge or connecting-piece 34, preferably of'copper laminac, adapted to make or break one of theleads of an electric circuit. The two levers 1 2 are geared together bysuitable means, preferably by means of teeth-cut segments forming theshorter arms of said levers, the longer arms being arranged to carry theconnecting bridge-pieces 3 4. Said levers l 2 are connected together bymeans of a spring 5 of suitable strength attached at either end to pins6 6, projecting from the levers 1 2. When the switch is closed, as shownin Figs. 1, 2, the moment of the force exerted by the spring about thepivots of the levers is practically zero on account' of the line ofaction of said forces passingthrough or in close proximity to the centerof the pivots of the levers. Consequently the switch will remain in itsclosed position until the handle 7 is operated, when the abutments 8 onthe lower part of the handle abutting against the outer tooth 9 of thetoothed segment ofthe lever 2 causes said segment to rotate about itspivot. The rotation of this segment consequently causes the toothedsegment of the lever 1 to rotate an equal amount by means of the toothedgearing, and consequently both levers rotate about their pivots andcause their respective bridge-pieces to rise. As the bridge-pieces risethe moments of the forces exerted by the spring continually increase,and finally shortly before the bridge-pieces break contact with thecircuit-terminals 10 11 l2 13 the spring overcomes the resistance offriction and produces asudden rotation of the levers about their pivotsand a consequent quick break of the circuit at both sets of terminals.The `handle? is carried loosely by the pivot of the lever 2, and theabutment 8 is of such a size that it is possible for the lever 2 to moveforward on the spring, causing the sudden break without the handle beingmoved simultaneously. Consequentlythe quick break is independent of therate at which the handle is moved over.

The method by which the bridge-pieces 3 4 are carried by the levers 1 2is shown in the drawings, each bridge-piece being separated from itslever, preferably by means of mica.

A switch constructed according to my invention possesses the advantagethat the mechanical parts of the switch-that is to say, all parts exceptthe connecting bridge-piecesare entirely insulated from the electriccircuit which the switch controls. Further, it will be noted that thewhole of the parts of the switch can be readily detached from theswitchboard by unscrewing the nut 14, which, coacting with the bolt 15,normally secures the mechanical parts of the switch on the switchboard.

I may so construct my switch that the mechanical parts and theconnecting bridgepieces carried by them are mounted on aseparateswitchboard from the board carrying the circuit-terminal blocks.Further, I may employ a hand-wheel instead of a lever-handle, as shownin the drawings.

What I claim is- 1. An electric switch consisting of the combination ofa base-board, four circuit-terminals arranged thereon, two pivotsmounted IOO thereon, two levers pivoted on said two pivots, one arm ofeach lever being in the form of a toot-hed segment which is adapted toengage with the toothed segment on the other lever, connecting bridge-pieces carried by and insulated from the other arms of the levers, saidconnecting bridge pieces being adapted to make and break contact withthe four circuit terminals, a handle loosely mounted on one of thepivots of one of the pivoted levers and provided with abutments whichwhen the handle is operatedl engage with said pivoted lever, lost motionbetween the handle and said pivoted lever being able to occur, and aspring attached at its two ends to the two pivotcd levers in such a waythat when the switch is closed the springisinoperative, being on adead-center, but when the switch is being opened by means of the handlethe spring aetuates the levers and produces quick breaks at thecircuit-terminals and finally maintains the pivoted levers in their openposition, substantially as described.

2. An electric switch consisting of the conbination of a base-board,four circuit-terminals arranged thereon, two pivots mounted thereon, twolevers pivoted on said two pivots, one arm of each lever being in theform of a toothed segment which is adapted to engage with the toothedsegment on the other lever, connecting bridge-pieces carried by andinsulated from the other arms of the levers, said connectingbridge-pieces being adapted to make and break contact with the fourcircnitterminals, a handle loosely mounted on one of the pivots of oneof the pivoted levers and provided with abutments which when the handleis operated engage with said pivoted lever, lost motion between thehandle and said pivoted lever being' able to occur, a spring attached atits two ends to the two pivoted levers in such a Way that when theswitch is closed the spring is inoperative, being on a dead-center, butwhen the switch is being opened by means of the handle the springactuates the levers and prodnces quick breaks at the circuit-terminalsand finally maintains the pivoted levers in their open position, and areleasing-nut and a bolt coacting therewith by the removal of which allthe purely mechanical parts can be readily detached from the base-plate,substantially' as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK HAGGER. HEADLEY.

Witnesses:

CLEMENT LEAN, HERBERT A. litIAiest-IALL.y

